ANDONI Iraola believes the Cherries will be facing Crystal Palace as they enter their best form of the season after a shaky start.
Bournemouth host Palace at the Vitality Stadium on Boxing Day in the Premier League, with the hosts coming into the game in fifth, 11 places higher than their visitors.
The away side started the season slowly after winning six out of their last seven games last term under boss Oliver Glasner.
Iraola said the Eagles are in a better moment now than they have been previously this season.
“Probably they started slow and now they've been growing during the season and probably we are going to face them where they are in the better place they've been,” Iraola told the Daily Echo.
“It's true that they come from two games against Arsenal that, even playing well and being ahead and having their chances, it’s always very difficult against Arsenal and for sure for them, it's also an important game and I expect a level game and we have to be very good.”
(Image: Stuart Martin)
With the fixture congestion, both Manchester United, who the Cherries beat on Sunday, and Palace operate with a back three.
Iraola said there is some advantage for them in preparing to face a back five for both games, but he said: “The starting positions are not to dissimilar but it's true that the patterns are different, they are not exactly the same.
“They use obviously the players to use the strengths they have and it's different. But it's true that we can take some things from the game we played yesterday for the Palace game.
“And also I think now with the new managers, Wolves, Southampton are playing also kind of a similar system.
“So we will see more times games against these kind of structures.”
Iraola identified the attacking threat that Palace hold, saying his side must be very good on Thursday.
(Image: Stuart Martin)
“They are going to be a threat,” he said.
“The five players they put up front, the wing backs, Daniel Munoz, Mitchell, Ismaila Sarr, Eberechi Eze, Mateta, Nketia, Kamada, they are top level players, very difficult duels to win.
“So, we'll have to be very good.
“But this is the Premier League. It doesn't change; we will play Palace and then we'll go to Fulham and they will have a lot of quality and we have to be at this level.
“There are difficulties in the Premier League if you are a fullback, you are a centre back, you will not have an easy game and we have to take it like this, try to help each other, especially the defenders.
“I think we are now in a good moment and I want to see them face the players you said like it happened yesterday to finish in a good spot defensively and I hope we can do it again.”
AFC Bournemouth host Crystal Palace at 3pm on Thursday, December 26.